Don’t Penalize Same-Sex Couples for Having Health Care

Same-sex couples covered by one partner’s health benefits face a no-win situation on their income taxes. Benefits extended to the same-sex partner of an employee are considered taxable, while benefits for an opposite-sex spouse are exempt from those very same taxes. Gay employees have to pay up to $2,200 more in taxes than their straight colleagues!

This blatant discrimination against LGBT couples isn’t just unfair – it’s also bad for business since employers who offer health benefits to same-sex partners and spouses have to pay higher payroll taxes.

But this burden on families and businesses has finally caught the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Members of Congress are coming together to solve this inequity. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) has introduced legislation that would exempt health benefits for both same-sex spouses and domestic partners from taxes. At least two Republicans have joined Rep. McDermott and a fellow Democrat to end the tax this year, but the bill will stall unless there is overwhelming, bipartisan support. That's where you come in.

Ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor the bill to end the unfair tax burden on health care for same-sex couples. There are so many ways in which gay and lesbian couples face discrimination. Together, let’s fix the system so health care is no longer one of them.

Letter to

U.S. House of Representatives

There is an injustice in our tax system that you can help correct. Employer health benefits that are extended to the same-sex partner of an employee are considered taxable, while benefits for an opposite-sex spouse are exempt from such taxes. Gay employees have to pay up to an additional $2,200 more in taxes than their straight counterparts. This is unfair and unequal.

I urge you to correct the inequity in the tax system that currently exists for same-sex partners by co-sponsoring the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott, the bill already has bipartisan support. There will be an opportunity later this year to correct this injustice through tax policy changes that are set to be debated. You can show your support now by adding your name as a co-sponsor.